Attachment for knitting machines



Sept. 3,. 1929. E. c. mH EAD 1,727,171

ATTACHMENT FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 16, 1928 s Sheet-Sheet 1INVENTOR. l'llm er 01110 ch head,

p 1929. E. c. LOCHHEAD 1,727,171

ATTACHMENT FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 16, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

Elmer (iLo/zheaz],

-1TTORNEY.

Sept. 3, 1929. E. c. LOCHHEAD ATTACHMENT FOR KNITTING MACHINES 3Sheets-Sheet v 3 Filed June 16, 1928 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

connection shown in Figure 7.

Patented Sept. 3, 1929- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELMER C. LOCHHEAD, OF MOBERLY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE-ASSIGNMENTS, TO SCOTT 8t WILLIAMS, INCORPORATED, 013 NEW YORK, N. Y., A

CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

ATTACHMENT FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

Application filed June 16,

This invention relates to an attachment for knitting machines and hasfor its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth,a means for connection with the detector of a circular knitting machine.whereby the machine may be automatically stopped when any trouble ariseswithin the needle line.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment asaforesaid, including means for rendering the same inoperative as a stopmechanism, coincidental with the withdrawal of the detector by the usualmechanism connected with the pattern chain,

' during yarn changes and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment asaforesaid, which is simple in construction, positive in operation,entirely free from delicate adjustment, and which may be readilyattached to circular knitting machines now in common use.

In the accompanying drawings in which like numerals are employed todesignate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a knitting machine showing an embodiment ofmy invention operatively connected therewith,

Figure 2- is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the embodimentshown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure rt is a section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is aview similar to Figure 1, showing a modified form ofconnection between the detector and actuating bar for the bell cranklever.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 77 of Figure6.

Figure 8 is a sectional plan of the upper Figure 9 is a section taken online 9-9 of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the vertical rodshown in Figure 7.

In Figure 1, I illustrate conventionally a knitting machine including abed plate 1, and a pivoted detector 2 having its tip 3 normally ridinginside the needle line. The detector is adapted for operative connectionwith a pattern control mechanism for with- 1928. Serial No. 285,851.

drawing the detector from its operative position inside the needle lineduring certain predetermined periods for yarn changes and the like. 7may be of the type disclosed in Patent No. 1,282,958 issued to .lt. \V.Scott November 25), 1918, and includes a rod 1 secured to the detectorand a spring 5 mounted on the rod 1. The pattern control mechanism maybe of the type disclosed in Patent No. 1,152,851) issued to R. V. ScottSeptember 17, 1915 and includes a rack wheel 6, and a pawl controllingmember 7 having a portion 8 thereof in contact with a lugged patternchain 9.

In the operation of the pattern control mechanism whereby the detectoris withdrawn at certain periods as aforesaid, a rocking movement isimparted to the pawl control member 7.

My invention consists of suitable mechanism operatively connecting thedetector 2 with the trip arm 10 for a set of clutch pulleys 11 or otherstop motion mechanism, whereby any interference with the detector bytrouble of any nature arising within the needle line, causes theimmediate actuation of the trip arm to stop the machine. My inventionfurther consists of means operatively connected with the pattern controlmechanism whereby the operation of the latter during the periods of yarnchanges and the like, breaks the operative connection between thedetector and trip arm, thereby permitting the detector to be withdrawnduring such periods without the motion thereto being transmitted to thetrip arm.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the numeral 12 designates a rodpivotally connected at one end to the detector 2, and having itsopposite end extending through a standard 13 and projecting beyond theedge of the frame 14 of the machine, in proximity to the clutch pulleys11.

Pivoted to the standard 13, as shown at 15, is a bell crank lever 16,one arm 17 of which is recessed as shown at 18 to provide a relativelysmall shoulder for engagement with the trip arm 10. The trip arm 10 ispivoted to the frame, as shown at 19, and is normally maintained withits free end seated in the recess 18 of the arm 17, by means of arelatively strong coiled spring 20.

Carried by the free end of the rod 12 is t u buch operative connectingmeans an upright member 21, which .is formed with an internally threadedboss 22 to receive therethrough a set screw 23. The inner surfaceof thehead of the set screw 23 is formed with a groove to provide a seat forthe rod 12. Pivotally connectedto the upright member 21, as shown at 24,is a push bar 25, the free end of which is formed 1n its lower surfacewith a right angular notch 26, thehorizontal wall 27 of which rests onthe upper surface of the arm 28 of the bell crank lever 16, and thevertical wall of whlch is adapted for engagement with the rearward edgeof said arm. The upright member 21 is further supported by means of aguide rod 29, one end of which is secured as at.

30 to the frame 14, and which extends through the standard 13 beyond themember 21 and is returned to form a loop 31, being vertically offsetadjacent the standard 13, as

, shown at 32, and terminating in a horizontal lation to the lowerportion of the loop 31.

portion 33, which is disposed in parallel re- The space between theupper and lower portions of the loop 31 is substantially equal to thediameter of the set screw 23, wh ch extends through the space tomaintain the member 21 and the guide -rod 29 in snug connection.

Secured to the pawl control member 7, by a suitable holdfast device 34,is a rod 35 which extends through a vertical bore 36 formed in the frame14 adjacent one corner thereof, and terminates in a horizontal portion37 which passes under the push rod 25 ad acent the lower edge thereof,and extends between the portion 33 and the upper portion of the loop 31of the guide rod 29.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 10, the connecting means betweenthe detector 38 and pushbar 39 is particularly adaptable for use inconnection with machines in which the bed plate 40 is spaced asubstantial distance above the horizontal plane of the frame 41. In thisform the bed plate 40 is formed with a vertical bore 42, through which avertical rod 43 loosely extends, the lower end of the rod 43 preferablyresting on the base plate 44 for the bed plate 40. Adjacent the upperend thereof, the rod 43 is provided with a horizontally extending arm 45which is formed with a transverse horizontal bore 46. Pivotallyconnected to the detector 38 is a relatively short rod 47, the free endof which extends through the bore 46 and is secured in position by meansof a collar 48 loosely fitting the rod 47 and provided with a set screw49.

Adjacent the lower end of the vertical rod 43, an arm 50 extendshorizontally therefrom, which is in the same vertical plane as the arm45. Adjacent the free end thereof, the arm 50 is formed with a verticalbore 51, and spaced slightly from the bore 51, the arm 50 is'formed witha similar bore 52.

Pivotally connected with the arm-50, through the bore 52, is ahorizontally extending rod 53, the rearward end of' which is connectedwith the push bar 39 in the same manner as the rod 12 is connected withthe push bar 25 as hercinbefore described inconnection with bore 51, theother-end of the s ring 54 being connected to the mounting or the guiderod 55. The guide rod 55 is of the same construction as the guide rod 29hereinbefore described 'in connection with the embodiment shown inFigures 1 to 5.

In the operation of my attachment, actuation of the detector 2 about itspivot exerts a longitudinal pull on the'rod 12 toward the head of themachine. Thelongitudinal motion of the rod 12 actuates the push bar 25and causes the same to bear againstthe rearward edge of the arm 28 'ofthe bell crank lever 16, causing the bell crank lever to be swung on itspivot and removing its arm 17 from engagement with the trip arm 10. Whenthe end of the trip arm 10 is ates the. mechanism for the clutch pulleys11 to stop the machine. When the detector 2 is swung about its pivot,due to the intermediate mechanism connecting the detector with the pawlcontrol member 7, the rod 35 is moved in a vertical direction by thepawl control member 7 and lifts the push ar 25 out of engagement withthe arm 28 of the bell crank lever 16, as clearly shown in Figure 4 bydotted lines. With the push bar 25 in raised position, the bell cranklever 16 is unaffected by any longitudinal-pull on the rod-12, therebypermitting a free movement to the detector 2 for yarn changes and thelike without danger of stopping the machine.

As soon asthe change in the machine has been completed and the detector2 and pawl control member 7 returned to their normal positions, the rod35 is actuated downwardly by the pawl control member 7, and the push bar25 is permitted to fall by gravity into its normal position engaging thearm 28 of the bell crank lever 16.

In the operation of the connecting means between the detector 38 andpush bar 39,

free to pass the shoulder formed by the I notch 18 in the arm .17, thespring 20 swings. the trip arm 10 about its pivot which operof the arm45, thereby partially rotating I the vertical rod 43 about its verticalaxis. The collar 48 is preferably adjusted on the rod 47 to permit thearm 45 to hear thereagainst and with said arm 45 disposed at a slightrearward angle, thereby permitting the arm 45 to move through a positionat right angles tothe rod 47 during the forward movement of said arm.--Asithe'jverhcal rod 43 is rotated about its axis, the arm 50 is causedto move therewith, and describes the same are as the arm 45. Themovement of the arm 50 exerts a forward pull on the horizontal rod 53,by means of which the push bar 39 is actuated. When the detector isreturned to normal position over the needle line, the rod 47 slidesthrough the bore 46 in the arm without impart-mg anv movement to thevertical rod 43. In order to return the vertical rod 43 to the positionin which the arm 45 bears against the collar 48, the spring 54 isconnected with the arm and guide rod 55 as hereinbefore described.Simultaneously with the return of the detector 38 to its normal positionover the needle line and the rearward movement of the rod 47, thevertical rod 43 is actuated by the spring 54 and arm 50 to maintain thearm 45 with its rearward face bearing against the collar 48.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as the preferred example of the same, and thatvarious'changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the appended claims.

IVhat I claim is:

1. In combination with a stop motion trip arm and detector for aknitting machine, a rod having operative connection With the detector, abell crank lever engaging the trip arm, a supporting member carried bythe rod, a push bar pivoted to the supporting member and formed with anotch, one wall of which normally rests on one arm of the bell cranklever, and means for removing the push bar from engagement with the bellcrank lever at predetermined periods.

2. In combination with a clutch pulley trip arm and detector for aknitting machine, a bell crank lever engaging the trip arm, a push barengaging the bell crank lever, means operatively connecting the push barand detector whereby the former is actuated by the latter, and means forremoving the push bar from engagement with the bell crank lever atpredetermined periods, said operatively connecting means including apair of horizontal rods connected respectively with the push bar anddetector, a vertical rod disposed therebetween, and a pair of horizontalarms provided on said vertical rod and connected respectively with saidhorizontal rods.

3. In combination with a clutch pulley means for removing the push barfrom engagement with the lever at predetermined eriods, said operativelyconnected means including a vertical rod supported by the machine andformed with a pair of horizontal arms, a horizontal rod connecting oneof said arms with the detector for partial rotation of said verticalrod, a second horizontal rod connecting the other of said horizontalarms with said push bar, and a spring secured to one of said horizontalarms to reeiist'said partial rotation of the vertical Ino 4. Incombination with a stop motion trip arm and a detector for a knittingmachine, a lever for releasing the trip arm, a push bar in engagementwith the lever for actuating the latter, means operatively connectingthe detector and push bar to provide for the actuation of the latter tostop the machine, and means for removing the push bar from engagementwith the lever at predetermined periods in the operation of the machine.

5. In combination with a stop motion trip arm and a detector for aknitting machine, means having operative connection with the detectorand trip arm to stop the machine by the actuation of the detector, andpattern controlled means for breaking said operative connection duringpredetermined periods in the knitting operation to prevent stopping ofthe machine upon the actuation of the detector during such periods.

6. In combination with a stop motion trip arm and a detector for aknitting machine, a rod connected with the detector for longitudinalmovement of the rod by the actuation of the detector, means operativelyconnecting the rod with the trip arm to provide for the actuation of thelatter to stop the machine upon longitudinal movement of the rod, andpattern controlled means for preventing the actuation of the trip arm bythe longitudinal movement of the rod during predetermined periods in theoperation of the machine.

7. In a knitting machine of that type including a detector and a patterncontrol mechanism operatively connected therewith to Withdraw it atpredetermined periods, a stop motion trip arm, means having operativeconnection with the detector and trip arm to provide for the operationof the latter to stop the machine, and means for operative connectionwith the pattern control mechanism to disconnect said operativeconnecting means between the detector and trip arm during saidpredetermined periods.

8. In a knitting machine of that type including a detector and a patterncontrol mechanism operatively connected therewith to withdraw it atpredetermined periods,

a stop motion trip arm, a lever for operating the tri arm, a push bar inengagement with the ever for actuating the latter, means havingoperative connection with the detector and push bar whereby the latteris actuated by the detector, and means for operative connection with thepattern control mechanism for removing the push bar from engagementwiththe lever during said predetermined periods.

9. In a knitting machine of that type including a detector and a patterncontrol mechanism operatively connected therewith to withdraw it atpredetermined periods, a stop motion trip arm, a rod connected with thedetector for longitudinal movement of the rod by the actuation of thedetector, means operatively connecting the rod with the trip arm toprovide for the actuation of the latter to stop the machine uponlongitudinal movement of the rod, and means for operative connectionwith the pattern control mechanism for rendering said connecting meansbetween the rod and erative connection between the detector and the stopmotion, in combination with a pattern chain, lugs on said pattern chain,and means actuated by said lugs to disconnect the means connecting thedetector and stop motlon.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

ELMER C. LOCHHEAD.

